Style

November 09, 2021

Funky Flat Sandals for Easy Spring and Summer Style

Flat sandals are so handy to have in your wardrobe for spring and summer.

They allow your feet to breathe, and you can wiggle your toes (LOL)! They’re such an easy ‘grab and go’ option for the warmer months.

Nude coloured flats that are close to your skin tone are the most versatile. Then, neutrals like tan, navy, white, grey, brown, and black are handy because they mix and match with every colour. And finally, fun, interesting colours such as green, red, orange, purple etc., are the least adaptable but will add an element of interest to any outfit.

If you have skin with warm undertones, choose yellow-based colours. And, if your skin is ‘cool’, then select blue-based colours. I’ve included a range of both warm and cool coloured flat sandals, as you can see in the shoppable boards below.

Stylish flat, open-toed sandals in warm colours - perfect for spring and summer outfits.

Click here to shop the board.

Funky flat, open-toed sandals in cool colours - perfect for spring and summer outfits

Watch this video to see why I chose these flat sandals:

If you’ve had your colours done, you’ll know if you should be focusing on the warm or the cool range of colours. If you’re at a loss as to whether you suit yellow or blue-based colours, a personal colour analysis consultation will take all of the guesswork away.

What To Wear with Flat Sandals

A maxi dress
Jeans
Casual skirt
Knee or above the knee length dress
Culottes
Shorts
A jumpsuit
Cargo pants
Casual pants made from light-weight fabric like linen

Let’s just look at #1 and #4. Flat sandals and casual dresses are a match made in heaven. These are two wardrobe items that require minimum thought and time, with maximum impact. No worrying about which top and bottom coordinate together – just slip on your dress, slide into your sandals, grab your handbag, and you’re out the door!

Here are some long and short dresses that would look great with your flat sandals.

Long and short dresses to wear in spring and summer

Sticky

September 10, 2021

10 Easy, Chic Ways To Style Your Winter Knits

These 10 easy, chic ways to style your winter knits will have you looking up-to-date for every occasion. Jumpers (‘sweaters’ in America, ‘pullovers’ in Europe) and short and long-line cardigans keep you warm and cosy on chilly days. They are versatile investment pieces for your winter wardrobe – perfect for layering when the temperature plummets. Mostly, I choose knits made from natural fibres like merino, alpaca, and cotton – not just to keep the cold out but because they are soft, comfortable, and breathable.

You can find my favourites in the shoppable boards and video below. Some of these styles come in other colours. My picks are based on cool and warm colours. If you have already had a colour analysis with me, you will know your best colour palette (whether you are warm or cool). You can wear all of these knits to create stylish outfits like the suggestions listed below.

Watch the video to see why I have selected these cosy winter knits.

10 Easy, Chic Ways To Style Your Winter Knits

Jeans, ankle boots, jacket or long-long cardigan. Swap the ankle boots for sneakers.
Team your knit with a skirt. Half tuck or belt your knit to show your shape.
Add a textured vest over the top for extra warmth—for example, faux fur or quilted styles.
Ankle boots, slim-fit jeans, and a long jumper with a long necklace.
Wear a collared shirt underneath your knit. Allow the collar and hem of the shirt to peek out at either end.

8 happy women wear cosy winter jumpers and cardigans.

Skinny jeans or Ponte pants with long boots and a long scarf.
A straight skirt, tights, ankle boots and an oversized winter knit.
If your winter jumper is oversized and long enough, wear it like a dress with tights and long boots.
Wear your oversize V-neck or boatneck knits off the shoulder with jeans, pants or a skirt and long boots.
For a chic evening look, pair your light to medium weight jumpers with your darkest denim jeans or culottes and high heeled boots or pumps.

Have fun creating some of these easy ways to style your winter knits.

Sticky

July 24, 2021

In HomePage-Blog, Wardrobe

7 Fashion Mistakes Sabotaging Your Style

Interested in knowing 7 fashion mistakes that could be sabotaging your style?

Let’s start with ‘style rules’.

Do you like them to stick to them when you create your outfits, or do you favour flexibility as I do?

I think it’s beneficial to know the theory and fundamentals of colour and style, but things get more exciting when you bend the rules, play outside the box and express your individuality. After all, fashion is meant to be fun!

There are, however, some general guidelines that can save your outfit from falling into the “What was she thinking?!” category. Knowing these fashion faux pas will help you dress with style and feel more confident about your outfit choices.

Fashion Mistakes Stealing Your Style

1. Insisting you are only ever one size in clothing. “I’m always a size 12. I couldn’t possibly go up to the 14.”

Not all sizes are created equal! Make allowances for the huge sizing variations from one brand to another.

Last week I was on a personal shopping trip with Katie, who usually wears a size 14/L. She purchased an oversized top in size 12 and a skirt that skimmed her curves in size 16. Both garments fit her to perfection.

2. Buying one item in every colour, especially anything that is worn near your face. I have seen this sooo many times during wardrobe audits!

The chances are that only one or, at a stretch, two colours will suit your ideal personal colour palette. The other colours will be unflattering for your skin tone. You may innately recognise this when you look in the mirror. Consequently, you only wear one colour ‘to death’ while the others will be a waste of money and take up valuable space in your wardrobe.

Model wears 4 tops that are all the same style but in different colours.

These 4 tops are all the same style but in different colours. The soft pink and pure white tops are great options if you are light with cool undertones. Black will suit those with deep colouring. The marine blue top will look fabulous on you if you have warm undertones.

Fashion faux pas to avoid

3. Wearing wide horizontal or vertical stripes across areas you want to hide, e.g. your tummy, hips, bottom, bust or shoulders. Stripes, especially large ones, are focal points that add extra volume and width.

4. Wanting to look taller and slimmer, but wearing very dark pants with a very light top (or vice versa).

This combination is called ‘high-value contrast’. It visually cuts you in half. If you are tall, that might not be such a big deal. But, if you are average height or less, it will make you appear shorter and wider. Notice that the line at the model’s waist area is less obvious in the image on the right-hand side.

5. Fashion mistake no. 5 is wearing white, bright, tight, coloured, dark or patterned underwear beneath your white clothes. No one needs to see that! ? Nude, flesh colours are the way to go.

Tip: White pants are especially unforgiving, so when you wear them, make sure your underwear fits perfectly.

These Fashion Blunders could be your Style Undoing.

6. Buying into extreme fashion trends. They lack staying power and date quickly. Examples include micro bags, padded shoes, and mega-ripped jeans. These high turnover pieces deplete your bank balance and contribute to unnecessary waste and pollution. Plus, if you wear them for too long, others will perceive you as outdated or stuck in the past.

7. The last of the fashion mistakes warranting a mention is ill-fitting clothes. Wearing garments that are either too tight or too large draws attention for the wrong reasons. I think the former is the worst offender – think muffin tops and breasts spilling out of a super tight top. This scenario reminds me of something I read ages ago, “Just ‘cause it zips doesn’t mean it fits.”

The other side of the coin is trying to hide your perceived problem areas (like a tummy) with large over-sized clothes. Excess fabric only draws our attention to that area.

Clothes that skim your body shape are most flattering.

Image credits: Mollini, Portmans

Sticky

March 17, 2021

1 Comment

Eyewear Colours: What Colours are Best for You?

Choosing eyewear colours can be tricky – there are so many shades to choose from!

An easy way to narrow down the options is to choose glasses that complement your hair, skin and eye colours.

There are 2 important factors to consider before you start choosing the colour of your frames:

Do I suit warm or cool colours?

Your answer influences the undertone of the colours you choose. How do you know which colours suit you? Coral suits people with warm, yellow-based undertones. Fuchsia suits cool, blue-based undertones. Or, you can use your comprehensive colour swatch to guide you.

Do I want my glasses to work with my natural colour palette or do I want them to make a bold statement?

Below you will find ideas about how to choose frame colours that work in harmony with you. If you have a style personality that enjoys creative, more dramatic, or fun looks – go ahead – break ‘the rules’!

Eyewear Colours – Take Inspiration from Your Locks

Look at the different variations of highlights and deeper colours in your hair. Any of these shades will look fabulous as a frame colour.

Tip: Do you have a wide range of light and medium or dark tones in your hair? Tortoiseshell frames could be a great choice.

Black and dark brown hair – deep, dark colours, including black, will look striking on you. Avoid pale, ashy colours.

Light brown hair – If your hair is warm brown choose russet tones, camel, deep taupe. Cool brown hair? Select rose brown, blue-greys.

Red hair – rich tans and umber, reddish and chocolate browns – colours inspired by nature (think Autumn leaves). Brighter orange hair will tolerate more vibrant hues.

Blonde hair – Warm blondes suit honey, caramel, cinnamon, peach, and gold coloured frames. Whereas, cool blondes shine in rose beige, deep taupe, soft pink and silver.

Tip: black can look harsh if your overall colouring is light.

Grey hair – Is the undertone of your grey warm or cool? Warm (yellow-based) grey will look terrific in brushed gold glasses (a lacklustre version of yellow gold). Cool greys suit silver frames. Avoid yellow and brown frames.

Best Glasses Frames To Enhance Your Eyes

Have a close look at your eyes. What colours do you see? Choosing frames that are like the colours in your eyes will make them ‘pop’. These are called eye enhancers.

Eyeglass Frames That Complement Your Skin Tone

Does your skin have a pinkish hue or does it appear more yellow? Wearing glasses in your optimal shades of red, pink, burgundy or purple will make your skin glow.

Tip: If you have a warm, yellow-based undertone you will also suit orange.

By choosing frames that complement the colours of your hair, skin and eyes you’ll be well on your way to selecting the perfect look for you.

Eyewear images were sourced from Specsavers. This brand also operates in the UK, Ireland, other countries in Australasia and Nordic countries.

Sticky

October 25, 2020

In Colour, HomePage-Blog

Quick Styling Tips to Hide a Tummy

As a personal stylist, I’m often asked for quick styling tips to hide a tummy.

Successful dressing really is the art of illusion. By making clever colour and style choices you can highlight your assets, as well as play down areas you’re not so keen on. What I love about clever styling is that the magic happens without succumbing to radical surgery, crazy dieting, or hours sweating at the gym. Hallelujah to that!

In this blog, I share 12 ways you can minimise your tummy area by being selective about the clothes you wear.

How to Hide a Tummy with Clever Styling

Wear tops, dresses and skirts that skim rather than cling to your tummy. Fabric that drapes softly will cleverly conceal what’s underneath. Tip: Clothes that are too large and voluminous will totally hide your shape. They will visually add extra kilos making you look bigger – so take care of the fit.

Tops should hang below the area you are wanting to hide. Your ideal top length will depend on your body proportions. Tops that end on the roundest part of your body will attract the most attention. So too will tops that sit above the waistband of your skirt or pants.

Rounded and diagonal hemlines are flattering for a rounded stomach. And, they give the illusion of longer legs.

Choose soft drape, stretch or flowing fabrics. This is definitely something to be mindful of. Crisp or stiff fabrics add unwanted bulk.

Matte fabrics are your friend. Shiny fabrics are attention-grabbing and can reveal lumps and bumps making you look larger.

Shiny fabric draws attention to your tummy

Matte fabric is better for disguising a tummy Images: Nordstrom

Another way to disguise a fuller tummy is to keep the focal point above or below that area. So avoid belts, large pockets on blazers, border patterns on tops, wide stripes, double-breasted jackets, and long necklaces that sit on your belly.

Woman wears long, golden yellow top with a necklace that sits below her bust and on her belly.

The necklace should sit above the bust.

No gathering or pleating at the waist

Play down your tummy area by wearing pants, skirts, and dresses with minimal or no gathering or pleating at the waist. Folds of pleats will open over the rounded area, rather than lying flat. And, gathers will add extra fabric, creating visual ‘bulk’. Flat fronts are ideal.

High rise jeans and pants are trending now, and if you have a long rise they are great for hiding a belly – no muffin tops in sight! For most women with a tummy, mid-rise pants will work best. Make sure that the waist of the pant sits near or on your belly button. Slimline pants are ideal if you wear loose tops.

Longline cardigans and vests create the illusion of length and flow over the sides of your tummy area.

Dresses that a great for concealing a tummy

Empire dresses that sit under the bust with no gathering are very flattering styles. Tip: Avoid baby doll dresses because they have lots of gathering under the bust.

Dresses with ruching help minimise a tummy.

Trapeze, A-line and shift dresses work well too.

These are some of the simple styling tips which will ensure you feel comfortable, look great, and hide your tummy all at the same time. The ‘aim of the game’ is to help you feel confident inside and out.

Would you like to know everything there is about what to wear for your personality, body shape, proportions and lifestyle? A one on one Style Session will answer all of your questions and make getting dressed easy!

Do you have any other tips about this topic? Please feel free to share.

Sticky

June 19, 2020

16 Tips for Looking Good On Video Calls

Video calls have become a common way of connecting with each other. Online platforms like Zoom, Skype, and FaceTime are very convenient. Now we can schedule business meetings, webinars and personal catch-ups with people across the globe. You can look your best on virtual meetings and virtual get-togethers by following these quick and easy tips.

Looking good on video calls: Colour

1. Wear mid-tone colours. Very light or very dark colours have a tendency to make you look washed out.

An assortment of warm and cool medium value colours that are perfect for looking great on video calls.

2. Choose clothes that are different in colour to your background. On a recent video call, someone I was talking with was wearing black, and the curtain behind her was black, leaving ‘just a face’ on the screen. That might be a great look for theatre, but video meetings shouldn’t be that dramatic!

Bonus tip: Have a look at what’s behind you. Keep your background uncluttered, and clean and tidy as possible. You want everyone to be focused on the conversation.

3. Solid colours are easier on the eye. And, it’s best to avoid stripes as they tend to look fuzzy on the screen. Also, loud, multicoloured patterns can be distracting. Patterns that are dense and small to medium in size work best.

Stripes can appear fuzzy on screen.

4. Wear colours that work in harmony with your hair, skin and eyes. These colours will ensure you create maximum visual impact. Before you have a chance to speak, people will subconsciously judge your appearance and your non-verbal cues (posture, facial expression, body language) – make yours a positive first impression.

Style suggestions for looking your best during online calls

5. Your main focus should be dressing your portrait area. From the top of your head to about your mid-section is generally all we’ll see. But I recommend considering what you wear below that area as well. If you have to get up in a hurry and don’t have time to turn off the camera you want to dress so that you won’t embarrass yourself and it won’t be a shocking sight for everyone else on the call.

6. Dress authentically so you feel confident and comfortable is very important. So too, is dressing appropriately. For example, if you are on a business call, wear an outfit that you would normally wear to work. That way your mindset is in work mode, you look the part and your work colleagues and/or clients know it too. (A blazer and a solid coloured top always look professional.)

Remember, your clothes send subliminal messages. Think about how you want to be perceived when you’re dressing for video calls. Even if the call is for social reasons it’s a great idea to look ‘put together’. You’ll feel more confident and everyone else will appreciate the respect you’re showing them by making an effort.

7. If you wear jewellery to keep it fairly simple: The focus needs to be on your message, not on your adornments.

8. Still on the topic of jewellery: avoid wearing stacks of bangles which can be noisy when you move your arms. If you’re using headsets, dangling earrings could hit the earpiece and cause noise distraction.

Grooming

9. Hair should be neat and clean. If you’re really pushed for time just make sure that the front view of your hair is the way you want it. No one will see the back of you. If you’re prone to playing with your hair, pull it back in a simple ponytail or low bun to stop yourself from playing with it.

10. Not everybody likes to wear makeup, but a mid-tone lipstick or lip gloss and a bit of blush will help define your features. It also helps to keep the focus on your primary communication zone.

Wearing a mid-tone lipstick draws attention to your face – your principle communication zone.

11. Be wary of your neckline. If it’s too low, you might feel self-conscious and find it difficult to concentrate.

Look your best for online calls; Lighting and camera position

12. Make sure there’s optimal light. Natural light is best, but daylights, softbox lighting or a ring light can produce similar results. The light source should be in front of you. Avoid sitting directly under a light source as it will cause deep shadows (especially under your eyes).

13. Position the camera at eye level or slightly above. This gives others the feeling that you are sitting opposite the person you are talking to – just like a face-to-face conversation. An easy way to achieve this is to position your device on a stack of books or a small box. If the camera is below you it will create an unflattering, distorted view. This angle can create double chins that you didn’t know you had!

14. Even lighting is key. Use a portable ring light if you are unable to move your seating position and one side of you is in shadow. These are inexpensive and widely available. Just like the way you elevate your computer or phone, you can set the legs of the light on a stack of books or a box to achieve optimal height.

15. Clean the camera lens before the video calls start so that the image others see is clear.

16. Finally, check yourself on the screen before turning the video function on. This gives you time to make any adjustments or tweaks to your appearance before you are in front of others.

Image Credits: Andriyko Podilnyk, Honest Company, Visuals – Unsplash

Sticky

May 12, 2020

In Colour, HomePage-Blog, Style

2 Comments

Underwear Essentials: Your Guide To Flawless Style

Good underwear essentials are the foundations of flawless style.

Get it right and your clothes will appear to fit better, you’ll look great and you’ll be comfortable!

Get it wrong and ill-fitting underwear will ruin your day and ruin your outfit.

Can you remember a time when your bra was digging into you so much that you couldn’t concentrate, it made you grumpy and as soon as you got home you threw it in the bin? And, what about when your undies were so tight they achingly dug into your skin creating lumps and bumps that had never existed before? Or undies that rode up and ‘disappeared’ because the elastic had given up the ghost?

Here’s how to stop these annoying situations ever happening again.

Underwear Essentials 1: Your Bra

History’s not clear about when the bra (as we know it) was first invented. In 1889 French born Herminie Cadolle separated a corset into two pieces. The upper part supported the bust using ‘rubber thread’ shoulder straps (the equivalent of modern day elastic). A few years later Marie Tucek introduced the forerunner to the underwire bra by using metal support plates in her design. But, it was Mary Phelps Jacob who patented her lightweight, soft ‘Backless Bra’ in 1914 that paved the way for the bras we wear today.

I highly recommend having a professional bra fitting every year. Our breasts and bodies are constantly changing. Your bra needs to be comfortable, fit perfectly and support you every day. A professional bra fitter will ensure the band, cup size, straps, hooks and wires suit your body shape and proportions.

It’s amazing what a great fitting bra can do for the way clothes hang on your body. When your bust is lifted you look more youthful and, if you have a large bust, your waist looks slimmer. A few times during personal shopping trips I’ve recommended we start with buying a new bra. Clothes looked so much better when their bust was properly supported and shaped.

Large department stores like David Jones and Myer offer fitting services. Storm in a D Cup in Sydney’s Bondi Junction specialises in D to K cup bras.

Have you found that clothing sizes vary dramatically? Well the same applies to bras. ‘Try before you buy’ is my motto. A Berlei 14C will be different to a Victoria’s Secret 14C or a Simone Perele 14C.

Invest in a couple of ‘workhorse’ bras. They’ll have no lace or embellishments and will be nude in colour. Both practical and versatile, they can be worn under most of your clothes, even finer fabrics and tees.

If you’re prone to nipples that protrude, wear a slightly padded bra or invest in reusable nipple covers from B Free or Cotton On.

Underwear Essentials 2: Your Undies

Panties, undies, knickers. Whatever you call like to them, choose wisely. A visible pantie line (VPL) is a sure-fire way to ruin the look of your outfit. VPLs happen when the outer edges and seams of your underwear show as a ridge or depression in the clothes you’re wearing.

Laser cut panties

How can you avoid it? If you find g-strings and thongs uncomfortable the answer is laser cut underwear. No elastic in the leg, waist or sides creates a smooth, nearly invisible appearance under your clothes. For hygiene and comfort reasons look for brands that stock undies that have a cotton crotch like Berlei, Triumph and Uniqlo.

Laser cut undies come in all shapes and sizes.

Underwear Essentials 3: Your Shapewear

Excruciatingly restrictive whalebone corsets, and old-fashioned girdles worn from the 20s to the 60s have thankfully morphed into the shapewear we know today.

Think of period movies like Gone With The Wind, Titanic, Elizabeth and Marie Antoinette that give us an insight into how gruelling it was to get into these devices and how uncomfortable they were to wear. The options we have today trim, smooth or lift virtually any area of your body, encourage natural curves and are comfortable.

Underwear Essentials blog. Model wears a modern day version of a girdle - the OnCore mid-thigh bodysuit from Spanx.

Underwear Essentials blog. 1942 advert for a Berlei girdle.

Underwear Essentials blog. Model wears a modern day girdle: the Strapless cropped mid-thigh bodysuit by Spanx.

The most important tip I can give you is to buy the right size. Too small and you’ll create bulging lumps outside the shapewear area (and be screaming on the inside). Too large: you’ll add wrinkles to your outfit fooling no-one about what’s going on underneath.

Putting shapewear on is easy if you wait a few minutes for your body to cool down and dry completely after you shower. And a small amount of talcum powder dusted over your skin will help too.

These days there’s an abundance of underwear brands offering a huge choice of styles, fabrics, sizes and fits to suit your preferences and needs. Update and invest in your underwear essentials for ultimate comfort, confidence and flawless style.

What is your favourite underwear brand and why?

Image Credits:

vintagedancer.com

Philadelphia Museum

Lacy Hint

eBay

Spanx

Sticky

January 12, 2019

Palazzo Pants – How To Wear Them Well

Move over skinny pants, palazzo pants are back in!

Coco Chanel wore them in the 20s and Katherine Hepburn wore them in the 30s. But it wasn’t until the 60s and early 70s that palazzo pants were embraced and worn by the masses. One of the reasons they became popular is because some of the ritzy restaurants in Europe insisted on enforcing the rule that women had to wear skirts or dresses to their restaurants. The women wanted to wear pants, so they found a way around it by wearing long, loose, floaty pants that looked similar to the dresses and skirts.

If you’re keen to wear this latest fashion trend read on…

Palazzo pants can be tricky to wear for those of us who are ‘vertically challenged’ and for anyone who carries weight on their hips and thighs. The volume of fabric and the full, broad leg can make you look wider and shorter.

3 pairs of palazzo pants. The first pair features floaty fabric. The second pair of palazzo pants feature a hemline that covers the shoes. The third pair is too short. It makes the wearer look short and wide.

Soft, floaty fabrics and longer hemlines are best.

Here are my top 6 tips to wearing palazzo pants well:

Wear heels to visually elongate your legs. Wedges are a comfortable option.
Choose light floaty fabrics.
Hem them as long as possible (but not too long that they’re a trip hazard ?).
Wear lighter or colourful tops, and jewellery to draw attention up to your face.
Choose solid colours or small dense patterns.
And, as well as the suggestions in point 4, you could also wear the same colour or a similar colour to your pants to make you look longer and taller.

Striped palazzo pants with a bright top. the bright top brings attention to your face.

Stripes elongate and the bright top brings the eye up to the face

Black palazzo pants teamed with a black top and high heels makes the wearer look taller and slimmer

Look taller by wearing a top in the same colour and heels

There are plenty of colours and styles at online stores like The Iconic

If you want more info on how to create stylish outfits using loose, baggy clothing like palazzo pants, you can read my article on the Principle of Volume.

Sticky

November 16, 2018

Improve Your Style using the ‘Principle of Volume’

There are many ways to improve your style, and one of them is by using the principle of volume. It is a simple technique that makes every outfit look good. You may be using it already without knowing it.

This article explains the principle of volume and how you can use it when combining your clothes.

Improve Your Style using the Principle of Volume

A garment is voluminous when it is oversized, bulky, full or wide, very gathered or flared, or there is a large quantity of fabric. Think: palazzo pants, culottes, loose billowy blouses, tops and skirts with ruffles, peasant tops and box pleat or full circle skirts. Here are some examples:

When two voluminous items are worn together the look becomes boxy and shapeless. The fabric swamps you and makes you look larger. The picture on the left (below) shows examples of this.

Now look at the image on the right. I have replaced the full skirt and loose, baggy pants with a tapered pencil skirt and straight cut black jeans. The slim lines of these garments balance out the oversized top giving the wearer some shape which creates a more flattering and visually appealing look. Other fitted garments that will show your shape include slim leg jeans and capri pants, high waisted straight skirts and tube skirts.

Two outfits featuring voluminous garments. These looks do not improve your style.

Two outfits featuring voluminous tops and slim fitting pants and skirt. Wearing this type of clothing combination is a way to improve your style.

The last picture shows the combination in reverse. The original voluminous skirt and pants have been teamed with a red-orange slim fitting top. Tip: If you are petite wear heels to elongate your legs.

The principle of volume works with all body shapes and for outfits for all occasions i.e., casual, smart casual or dressy. Just by using the simple formula of mixing a slim fitting garment with a voluminous one you will create a stylish look. Add accessories to complete your outfit.

Sticky

September 24, 2018

In HomePage-Blog